SINGAPORE - Singapore has offered two more Navy vessels for use in the search and recovery of AirAsia flight QZ8501.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Wednesday that Singapore had offered to send a Mine Counter-Measure Vessel, which has underwater sonar and a remotely operated vehicle, and the Remus, which is an autonomous underwater vehicle.
In a letter to his Indonesian counterpart General (Rtd) Ryamizard Ryacudu, he said the two vessels were suited for the task as the focus of search efforts shifts underwater.
The Indonesia AirAsia Airbus 320-200 with 162 crew and passengers on board, disappeared off radar screens on Sunday morning, on a flight from Surabaya to Singapore.
On Tuesday, Indonesian authorities located the first debris and bodies.
Dr Ng expressed his deepest condolences in his letter, and added: "Please let me know if there is further assistance that the Singapore Armed Forces can provide in this very difficult time for Indonesia."
In a Facebook post where he shared his letter, he said: "In this tragedy, we in Singapore share their grief and sorrow."
The two vessels would replace the missile corvette, that is among three vessels from Singapore that arrived at the search area on Monday.
